Nightlight toy

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a nightlight toy having a body, an interior power source, an interior light source, a switch for activating the interior light source and a microcontroller for regulating such activation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to soft rubber nightlight toys of any shape or size, which are capable of drawing power from an internal or external powersource and that use an activation switch and microcontroller for regulating activation of an internal light source.

B. Description of the Related Art

While there currently exist numerous nightlight toys, such toys have a variety of inherent drawbacks. For example, currently exisiting nightlight toys are generally made by putting a thin rubber skin around a hard substructure containing the electrical components. This hard substructure impedes full enjoyment of the toy since it poses a danger if the toy is thrown by, or accidentally falls on, a child.

In addition, the currently available toys generally require a removable battery pack or require the use of external electrical contacts for power or recharging. Such battery packs and electrical contacts present shock hazards as well as potential corrosion problems. This problem is only hightened by the fact that the toys are intended for use by children and thus exposure to liquid during play or during cleaning is clearly foreseeable.

Thus, a need still exists in the art to provide a nightlight toy that would be significantly less capable of causing injury, as well as one which does not require removal of a battery or the use of external physical electrical contacts for recharging, and which may come in contact with liquid without fear of damage to the toy or harm to the user. The present invention solves these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment the invention comprises a nightlight toy comprising a body of essentially any shape or size that can accommodate an interior component container that comprises a switch, a microcontroller, a power source, and a light source.

In another embodiment of the invention the nightlight toy has a power source that is recharged using wireless energy transfer.

In another embodiment of the invention, the nightlight toy has a body formed of silicone rubber.

In an additional embodiment of the invention, the light source is a LED light source.

In another embodiment of the invention, the switch is a pressure sensitive switch, a photo-sensitive switch, a proximity-sensitive switch, or a sound-actuated switch.

In another embodiment of the invention, the microcontroller regulates a slow oscillation activation of the light source.

In another embodiment of the invention, the microcontroller produces a steady illumination, a flashing effect, or a pulsing effect

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a crossectional view of a nightlight toy demonstrating the possible placement of the interior component compartment, the wireless induction device, the battery, the microcontroller, the switch, and the LED light source.

FIG. 2. is an external side view of the same nightlight toy

FIG. 3. is an external front view of the same nightlight toy.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A. DEFINITIONS

Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

As used herein for purposes of the present disclosure, the term “LED” should be understood to include any light emitting diode or other type of carrier injection/junction-based system that is capable of generating radiation in response to an electric signal. Thus, the term LED includes, but is not limited to, various semiconductor-based structures that emit light in response to current, light emitting polymers, light-emitting strips, electro-luminescent strips, and the like.

In particular, the term LED refers to light emitting diodes of all types (including semi-conductor and organic light emitting diodes) that may be configured to generate radiation in one or more of the infrared spectrum, ultraviolet spectrum, and various portions of the visible spectrum (generally including radiation wavelengths from approximately 400 nanometers to approximately 700 nanometers). Some examples of LEDs include, but are not limited to, various types of infrared LEDs, ultraviolet LEDs, red LEDs, blue LEDs, green LEDs, yellow LEDs, amber LEDs, orange LEDs, and white LEDs (discussed further below). It also should be appreciated that LEDs may be configured to generate radiation having various bandwidths for a given spectrum (e.g., narrow bandwidth, broad bandwidth).

The term “light source” should be understood to refer to any one or more of a variety of radiation sources, including, but not limited to, LED-based sources as defined above, incandescent sources (e.g., filament lamps, halogen lamps), fluorescent sources, phosphorescent sources, and luminescent polymers.

A given light source may be configured to generate electromagnetic radiation within the visible spectrum, outside the visible spectrum, or a combination of both. Hence, the terms “light” and “radiation” are used interchangeably herein. Additionally, a light source may include as an integral component one or more filters (e.g., color filters), lenses, or other optical components. Also, it should be understood that light sources may be configured for a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, indication and/or illumination.

The term “power source” includes any type of energy source, including, but not limited to, conventional single-use cell and rechargeable cells as well as cells capable of being recharged via wireless energy transfer.

The terms “battery” and “cell” are used to interchangeably herein.

The term “wireless energy transfer” includes any type of wireless energy transfer, including but not limited to, wireless inductive energy transfer.

B. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention concerns soft rubber nightlight toys. These toys may come in any shape or size, such as animal and baby animal shapes, and may be illuminated by any type of light source, such as light emitting diodes. These toys can be capable of drawing power from any type of power source including, but not limited to, rechargeable cells employing wireless energy transfer. These toys also include an activation switch, such as a pressure sensitive activation switch, and can include a microcontroller to regulate the activation of the light source.

One skilled in the art will recognize many methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein, which could be used in the practice of the present invention. Indeed, the present invention is in no way limited to the methods and materials described.

1. Formation of the Toy Body

According to the present invention, the toy body can be formed using a variety of polymerization, molding, and sealing methods which are well known in the art. Typically, the exterior of the nightlight toy will be formed of silicone rubber. However, the exterior could alternatively be made from any other soft synthetic rubber, such as urethane rubber.

While soft rubber nightlight toys generally available are made by adhering a thin rubber skin around a hard substructure containing the necessary electrical components, the instant invention is made by fully casting the internal components inside the soft form, therby creating a nightlight toy that is significantly less capable of causing injury to the user. Furthermore, the complete sealing of the internal electrical components renders the nightlight essentially waterproof.

2. Light Source

The light source may be any kind of lighting unit that is capable of responding to control, but in many embodiments the lighting unit includes a light source that is a solid-state light source, such as a semiconductor-based light source, such as a light emitting diode, or LED. Lighting units can include LEDs that produce a single color or wavelength of light, or LEDs that produce different colors or wavelengths, including red, green, blue, white, orange, amber, ultraviolet, infrared, purple or any other wavelength of light. Lighting units can include other light sources, such as organic LEDS, or OLEDs, light emitting polymers, crystallo-luminescent lighting units, lighting units that employ phosphors, luminescent polymers and other sources. In other embodiments, lighting units may include incandescent sources, halogen sources, metal halide sources, fluorescent sources, compact fluorescent sources and others.

The lighting sources can be point sources or can be arranged in many different configurations, such as a linear configuration, a circular configuration, an oval configuration, a curvilinear configuration, or any other geometric configuration, including two-dimensional and three-dimensional configurations. The sources can also be mixed, including sources of varying wavelength, intensity, power, quality, light output, efficiency, efficacy or other characteristics. In embodiments the sources are mixed to allow light of different colors or color temperatures. Various mixtures of sources can produce substantially white light, such as mixtures of red, green and blue LEDs, single white sources, two white sources of varying characteristics, three white sources of varying characteristics, or four or more white sources of varying characteristics. One or more white source can be mixed with, for example, an amber or red source to provide a warm white light or with a blue source to produce a cool white light.

Sources may be constructed and arranged to produce a wide range of variable color radiation. For example, the source may be particularly arranged such that the processor-controlled variable intensity light generated by two or more of the light sources combines to produce a mixed colored light (including essentially white light having a variety of color temperatures). In particular, the color (or color temperature) of the mixed colored light may be varied by varying one or more of the respective intensities of the light sources or the apparent intensities, such as using a duty cycle in a pulse width modulation technique. Combinations of LEDs with other mechanisms that affect light characteristics, such as phosphors, are also encompassed herein.

Any combination of LED colors can produce a gamut of colors, whether the LEDs are red, green, blue, amber, white, orange, UV, or other colors. The various embodiments described throughout this specification encompass all possible combinations of LEDs in lighting units, so that light of varying color, intensity, saturation and color temperature can be produced on demand under control of a control facility.

Although mixtures of red, green and blue have been proposed for light due to their ability to create a wide gamut of additively mixed colors, the general color quality or color rendering capability of such systems are not ideal for all applications. This is primarily due to the narrow bandwidth of current red, green and blue emitters. However, wider band sources do make possible good color rendering, as measured, for example, by the standard CRI index. In some cases this may require LED spectral outputs that are not currently available. However, it is known that wider-band sources of light will become available, and such wider-band sources are encompassed as sources for lighting units described herein.

The number and type of semiconductor illuminators can be selected to produce the desired lumens of output, such as by selecting some number of one-watt, five-watt, power package or other LEDs. In embodiments two or three LEDs are chosen. In other embodiments any number of LEDs, such as six, nine, twenty, thirty, fifty, one hundred, three hundred or more LEDs can be chosen.

In certain embodiments, Nichia LEDs can be used. For example, Nichia part number NSPW500CS, 5 mm, 20 degree white LED, which is driven with 10 ohm, ⅛ w 1%, thin film resistor and covered with a LED reflector produced by Holly Solar Products. In addition, certain embodiments may employ part number NSPW510CS, 5 mm, 50 degree white LED driven with no resistor. These LEDs can be replaced by any package size and options can variate from static color to programmed animation via on board microcontroller.

3. Power Source

Typically the nightlight toy will draw power from a rechargeable cell using wireless energy transfer. However, the toy will also function by drawing power from alternative power sources, such as conventional rechargable or single-use cells. In certain embodiments, the powersource can be a nickel cadmium cell, such as Jameco Part Number: 126720—NiCd, or a lithium ion cell, such as Jameco Part Number: 240266CM—Li-Ion.

Inductive chargers are known in the art for use with small appliances such as electric toothbrushes and the like. Current passes through an inductive coil in a charging stand. A current is induced in a mating coil in the appliance when the appliance is placed in the charging stand. This current is then used to charge the batteries within the appliance. Such inductive chargers are particularly useful for appliances used in environments where there is the potential for contact with liquids. However no such chargers have yet been described in connection with the charging of a nightlight toy.

When used with a rechargeable cell employing wireless energy transfer, the nightlight toy can be charged by using with an accompanying recharging cradle. This cradle can take any shape or size and can be formed from silicone rubber, or any other synthetic material, including other rubbers and plastics. This recharging cradle would be capable of inducing a current in a mating cable in the nightlight toy. The mating cable in the nightlight toy could be included within the interior component container, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or outside the container, depending on the specific design of the nightlight. For example, some toy designs may necessitate the presence of the mating cable close to or just under the surface of the nightlight toy for effective recharging. As pointed out above, such wireless energy transfer systems are well known in the art, and any one of them may be used in connection with the instant invention.

4. Activation Switch/Microcontroller

The nightlight toys of the instant invention will typically include an activation switch as well as a microcontroller to regulate activation of the light source. Along with the light source and the power source, the activation switch and the microcontroller components can be included inside of, or on the surface of, an interior component container. This interior surface container can be made of extruded acrylic or any other hard plastic or heat-formed plastic, including urethane, ABS, and polycarbonate.

Typically the toy will use a pressure sensitive switch for activation, however, alternative switches, such as, but not limited to, photo-sensitive, proximity-sensitive, or sound-actuated switches may also be used.

Typically, The illumination of the toy is governed by a microcontroller. This microcontroller can take a variety of forms, but will typically be a programmed semiconductor that fits within the internal component case. The microcontroller can provide any variety of light effects including but not limited to quick flashing, slow pulsing, a steady glow, or any combination of these effects. The microcontroller can also provide multiple effects separated by presses of the switch. For instance, a single press of the switch can start a slow pulsing effect, while a second press of the switch can change the light to a steady on state. In some embodiments the toy could use a two-setting controller, however the toy could also utilize three, four, five, or more settings.

Further details of the invention will be apparent from the following non-limiting example.

EXAMPLE

Manatee Nightlight Toy

As depicted in FIGS. 1-3, the instant invention can take the form of a manatee nightlight toy. Such a toy would comprise a soft silicone form with an interior component compartment including, a wireless induction device, a battery, a microcontroller, a mechanical switch, and an LED. 

1. A nightlight toy comprising: (A) a body, and (B) an interior component container comprising: (i) a switch, (ii) a microcontroller, (iii) a power source, and (iv) a light source.
 2. The nightlight toy of claim 1 wherein said power source is recharged using wireless energy transfer.
 3. The nightlight toy of claim 2 wherein said body is formed of silicone rubber.
 4. The nightlight toy of claim 3 wherein said light source is a LED light source.
 5. The nightlight toy of claim 4 wherein said switch is a pressure sensitive switch, a photo-sensitive switch, a proximity-sensitive switch, or a sound-actuated switch.
 6. The nightlight toy of claim 5 wherein said microcontroller regulates a slow oscillation activation of the light source.
 7. The nighlight toy of claim 5 wherein said microcontroller produces a steady illumination, a flashing effect, or a pulsing effect. 